Katherine's Sheaves eBook

“Yes, and the same argument holds good regarding
what we have been talking of,” was the quick
response. “I have been taught it from my
youth up, and although I know but very little of Christian
Science, for it is infinite, yet what I have learned
I know just as clearly as I know certain statements
in the ’History of the United States’;
yes, far more clearly,” she interposed, with
a little laugh, “for I am obliged to take the
historian’s account for granted, in part, while
I can demonstrate, prove Christian Science for myself.”

Dr. Stanley’s shapely brows were arched ever
so slightly at this assertion.

“Have you ever done any healing, Miss Minturn?”
he inquired. “Have you ever cured anyone
of a severe illness?”

Katharine flushed under his glance and question.

“A person cannot be said to know very much about
mathematics unless he is able to demonstrate mathematical
problems,” she observed, after a moment of hesitation.

“I see; you mean that anyone who acquires the
principles of Christian Science can demonstrate it
by healing the sick?”

“Yes. It is the Christ-science, or the
Science of Christianity, as demonstrated and taught
by Jesus, who said, ’The works that I do shall
ye do also if ye believe in Me.’ So anyone
who conscientiously investigates it, from an honest
desire to know the Truth, will grow into the practice
of it.”

“Miss Minturn, do you believe that you could
help Dorothy?” earnestly inquired Phillip Stanley.

“I know that she could be helped under right
conditions; and I wish—­I feel sure that
my mother’s understanding is sufficient to meet
the case,” she thoughtfully returned.

“‘Under right conditions,’ what
do you mean by that?”

“Dorothy would have to be willing to be treated,
and the consent of Prof. and Mrs. Seabrook would also
be necessary.”

“Then nothing could be done for her by your
method except under those conditions?” and Dr.
Stanley’s tone conveyed a sense of disappointment.

“No; it would not be right—­it would
be interfering where one would have no authority to
intrude.”

“But it would be doing good; that is always
justifiable, is it not? even if the child could be
given but one night’s peaceful rest to prove
its efficacy.”

“Well, under certain circumstances, it might
be employed to advantage, but, as a rule, I am opposed
to it.”

“We utterly repudiate it as a very dangerous
and demoralizing practice; but, Dr. Stanley, would
you think it right, under any circumstances, for a
person to hypnotize you without your consent?”

“Indeed I would not; it would be a dastardly
act,” emphatically declared the physician.

“On the same principle, Christian Scientists
feel that they have no right to treat, or try to influence
anyone mentally, even to do good, without permission,”
Katherine explained, as she arose, thinking, perhaps,
enough had been said on the subject.